"It caps years of improvements in Chinatown; turning Chinatown around from a place that was the high-crime area where everybody was afraid to come, to a place that is one of the most exciting, one of the most vibrant places to live and shop and enjoy on our island," Harris said.

The 10-month-long project included new granite sidewalks on Maunakea Street from King to Beretania streets, along with new Americans With Disabilities Act accessible curb ramps, new pavement, gutters, street lighting, traffic-signal systems, a fire hydrant and utility boxes.

The city is planning to do similar work on Nu'uanu and Smith streets, which is expected to start next year.

Maunakea is a historic Chinatown street with buildings on both sides that for decades have housed pastry shops and restaurants, lei stands and vegetable markets, jewelry stores and herb shops that impart the rich ambiance of the area.

Harris said the new sidewalks' stone paver tiles were designed to look like the granite blocks that were used as ballast in the old sailing ships arriving in Honolulu. Those stones were the original paving materials for the Chinatown's sidewalks, Harris said.

"This is all part of our historic restoration of this important area," he said.

Stanford Yuen, a neighborhood board member and vision team champion for the project, said the city has done great work in Chinatown to clean up the area and make it safer, including installing anti-crime video cameras, the new police substation and improved street lighting.

Yuen said more people will visit and shop in Chinatown if they see it is clean and safe.

"I walk through Chinatown several times a week," Yuen said. "I've noticed an increase in the number of visitors. The more people you have, the safer it will be. The stores and restaurants are staying open later. That is caused by the infrastructure improvements. We still have a long way to go, but it is a much better place."

When the project began in February, merchants were worried the parking restrictions and construction noise would put them out of business.

Jerry Cheng, owner of Jerry's Jade & Fine Jewelry at 1013 A Maunakea St., said his business is not much better today, but he is happy with the work.

"They did a very good job," Cheng said. "Better than what we (expected). Back then we were so worried."

Karen Lau-Lee, manager of Cindy's Lei & Flower Shoppe at 1034 Maunakea St., said the sidewalks and lighting look good, but she hopes the city will be a little more attentive to the needs of businesses as they proceed with work on Smith and Nu'uanu streets.

Lau-Lee's business, which is dependent on its curb-side delivery, suffered during construction.

"Be more accommodating to merchants when people need to drop off or pick up," Lau-Lee said. "The delivery people really suffered."